Pediatric Foot Care

Pediatric foot care specializes in those little feet and ankles of infants, children, and adolescents. Because they are continually growing and developing, the soft bones and muscles in their feet and ankles are vulnerable to injuries and other conditions. Early detection and treatment to foot problems can prevent them from becoming serious issues as they grow into adulthood. Our Modern Podiatry team works with parents, their children, and, oftentimes, their pediatrician to diagnose and treat foot and ankle issues. Working collaboratively helps to ensure that these conditions do not affect your child's overall growth and development and keeps growing on the right path.

What are common pediatric foot problems?

Although not a comprehensive list, children can face a host of feet and ankle challenges that includes:

• Ankle Sprains
• Athlete’s Foot
• Blisters
• Bunions
• Corns and Calluses
• Curly Toe
• Flat Feet
• Fungal Nail Infections
• High Arches
• Heel Pain 
• Ingrown Toenails
• Juvenile Plantar Dermatosis (JPD)
• Overpronation (child’s ankles bend inward when standing or walking)
• Plantar Warts
• Sports Injuries
• Sweaty Feet
• Toe Walking

What signs should a parent look for to determine if there is a problem?

A child’s foot health should be part of their annual physical check-up and, many times, your pediatrician will diagnose a potential foot or ankle condition that needs specialized treatment. However, parents should be aware of some cues and symptoms that could indicate that their child is experiencing foot and ankle problems that would prompt a visit to the doctor, such as:

• Limping and problems with the way your child walks (gait)
• Pain, swelling and redness that does not go away
• Abnormal size, shape, color, or form of the foot
• Pain, aches, and discomfort in lower extremities
• Limited function or reduced participation in their normal physical activities
• Shins or thighbones appear to turn inward
• Balance problems or frequent tripping when walking or running
• Weak ankles that easily give out
• Thick calluses in one area of the foot

If you have concerns about any of these symptoms being present in your child, get them in for a pediatric foot examination. 

What are some treatment options?

There are a variety of treatment options that focus on the child’s specific condition. The first step is a comprehensive foot and ankle examination by a specialist to identify issues or abnormalities. From there, the Modern Podiatry team can determine the best course of care. Whether the best corrective action is a minimally invasive approach like shoe modification, orthotic devices, physical therapy or common treatment of calluses or ingrown toenails, or a more intensive intervention such as surgery or injections, our team will provide parents with a treatment program for the best long-term outcome for their child. And we will work with parents on continued preventative care practices to help maintain their child’s overall foot health.